Coronavirus Australia live news: Fears of virus spread despite low Sydney case numbers
Sewage test results in new areas and a mystery case have NSW health authorities pleading with residents across Sydney to be cautious.
- Woolies limits toilet paper buying
- CBD’s Bligh St tower hit by virus
- Victoria picks up case from NSW
- Hopes rise for Christmas miracle
Welcome to live coverage of Australia’s response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Sewage test results in new areas and a mystery case have NSW health authorities pleading with residents across Sydney to be cautious. It comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the state had recorded just eight new cases out of 44,000 tests yesterday.
Victoria has acquired a new coronavirus case in a returned traveller from Sydney’s northern beaches.
Joseph Lam 11.15pm: Albanese pushing for a faster rollout
Anthony Albanese has called for a faster rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and urged the Morrison government to obtain more doses to more quickly vaccinate the Australian population.
The Labor leader told The Daily Telegraph that while he respected due process, there was no sense in waiting until March if approval for a vaccine arrived earlier.
“Labor respects Therapeutic Goods Administration processes but if it approves the Pfizer vaccine in January, it makes no sense not to have access until March,” he told The Telegraph.
“We clearly need more than 10 million doses. In short, more doses, more quickly.”
Read the full story here.
Max Maddison 11pm: Inner-city cafe contagion threat
An Italian cafe in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has alarmed health officials after an employee spent three days working while infectious.
While the outbreak of COVID-19 cases has been mostly contained to the northern beaches, NSW Health is scrambling to identify patrons of Paddington Alimentari deli and cafe after an employee worked three 12-hour shifts last week.
The employee, who worked from 5:30am to 6pm on December 17-19, later tested positive to coronavirus, and all patrons seated at the cafe during this period should consider themselves close contacts, get tested and isolate for 14 days from their visit, NSW Health said. Take-away customers should monitor symptoms until January 2.
Read the full story here.
Joseph Lam 10.30pm: Takeaway diners told to monitor for symptoms
Sydney residents who ordered takeaway meals from a cafe in Paddington have been told to monitor for symptoms as NSW Health races to find anyone who has visited over a three-day window.
Diners who visited Alimentari in Paddington, Sydney, between Thursday to Saturday from 5.30am to 6pm are urged to get tested immediately and isolate.
Meanwhile customers who purchased takeaway are advised to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately should they appear.
Read more: Inner-city cafe contagion threat
Mackenzie Scott 10pm: Border jumpers, isolation truants cop hefty fines
Queensland’s crackdown on quarantine rule-breakers and border hoppers has led to five people being fined as the state attempts to keep the virus out.
In the three days since the northern beaches, Greater Sydney and the Central Coast were declared COVID-19 hotspots on the back of rising case numbers, Queensland police have ramped up monitoring of those currently in the state who have been trusted with self-quarantining.
More than 186 compliance checks completed since Saturday found that 97 per cent of people were following the rules, police said on Tuesday. However, four people have been fined $1334 for not complying with stay-at-home self-quarantine orders.
Ewin Hannan 9.15pm: Health lawyers hit over emails delay
Health Department lawyers have been rebuked by Victoria’s hotel quarantine inquiry for giving the impression the state’s chief health officer had instructed them that an email chain that appeared to contradict his sworn evidence did not need to be produced.
Former judge Jennifer Coate also criticised Department of Health and Human Services’ lawyers for their belated production of the email chain, saying it should have been produced earlier because it became a “critical document” and “to avoid the inquiry reaching findings based on incomplete and potentially misleading evidence”.
The March 27 email chain, known as Exhibit 230, showed a Department of Home Affairs official, Sandra Jeffery, asking CHO Brett Sutton to provide details of quarantine arrangements in Victoria, including security arrangements.
AFP 8.30pm: BioNTech mutation-beating vaccine in six weeks
The co-founder of BioNTech says it is “highly likely” its vaccine against the coronavirus works against the mutated strain detected in Britain, but it could also adapt the vaccine if necessary in six weeks.
“Scientifically, it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus variant,” Ugur Sahin said on Tuesday.
But if needed, “in principle the beauty of the messenger technology is that we can directly start to engineer a vaccine which completely mimics this new mutation — we could be able to provide a new vaccine technically within six weeks.”
Mr Sahin said the variant detected in Britain has nine mutations, rather than just one as is usually common.
Nevertheless, he voiced confidence that the vaccine developed with Pfizer would be efficient because it “contains more than 1000 amino acids, and only nine of them have changed, so that means 99 per cent of the protein is still the same”.
He said tests are being run on the variant, with results expected in two weeks. “We have scientific confidence that the vaccine might protect but we will only know it if the experiment is done... we will publish the data as soon as possible,” he added.
READ MORE: Biden receives coronavirus vaccine
Nat Ives 7.40pm: How one beer survived Corona contact
A series of headlines early in the coronavirus pandemic suggested that its many impacts could include damage to a beer brand with a suddenly awkward name.
“Corona beer can’t catch a break amid coronavirus fear,” read one in February, for example.
Marketing executives responsible for selling Corona didn’t shrug off the reports, according to John Alvarado, senior vice-president for brand marketing at the beer division of Constellation Brands Inc.
“By and large we were experiencing many of the same challenges as other marketers,” he said.
“But we had the added layer and the pressure that this virus was using the name ‘corona’.”
AFP 6.55pm: Pilot blamed for first Taiwan transmission since April
Taiwan reported its first local coronavirus transmission, blaming a foreign pilot for ending 253 days of being virus-free.
Health authorities said a woman in her thirties had tested positive after contact with the pilot, a New Zealander working for a Taiwan airline.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said the pilot had failed to “truthfully declare” his contacts and activities to authorities once he had been confirmed as a carrier.
Authorities said the pilot — who faces a fine of up to T$300,000 ($14,000) — visited several establishments including a department store.
The infection is a blow for an island that has been lauded for its pandemic response, having recorded just 770 coronavirus cases and seven deaths after it shut its borders early and implemented strict quarantine rules.
Since April 12 all positive cases have been from a small number of locals returning to the island and also among the few foreigners and migrant workers allowed in for business reasons.
The vast majority of arrivals have to quarantine for two weeks and must test negative, a measure which — until Tuesday — had successfully kept any carriers from introducing the virus to the local community.
Pilots, however, undergo a less strict three days of self-quarantine after each overseas trip and the new case has already sparked debate about whether those measures should be tightened.
Soon after the virus first emerged in central China, Taiwan shuttered its borders, ramped up mask production and rolled out a well-oiled track and trace program.
Within two months of its first outbreak, local infections had ceased. Throughout the year the island of 24 million has managed to avoid the widespread lockdown and closures that have blighted the rest of the world.
It is on track to grow its economy by some 2.5 per cent this year
READ MORE: Arrival of British virus ‘not linked to cluster’
Finn McHugh 6.10pm: Scare for Canberra bubble
Anthony Albanese’s chief of staff has tested negative to COVID-19 after potentially being exposed to a carrier.
NSW authorities urged anyone who had been at Sydney’s 1 Bligh St on December 17 to get tested after revelations a COVID-positive person had been in the building.
The CBD building holds multiple office workplaces including the Commonwealth Parliament Offices.
It is used by ministers, opposition spokespeople and their staff while they are in the city for official business.
The Labor leader confirmed his chief of staff and media adviser had been in the building at the time, and had both been tested.
“They have been found to be negative,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday.
“I’m not aware of everyone who was in the building. It’s a very big building - there are more than 20 floors in (it).
“Everyone in my office who was there has been tested and been found to be negative.”
It comes as Liberal MP Jason Falinski confirmed he had also undergone testing alongside his daughter after the pair visited the CPO building on Thursday.
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and his staff were also there, but tested negative.
Mr Falinski’s electorate is on the COVID-hit northern beaches, but it was a rare trip to the city that prompted the test.
“The weekend when this all occurred, I think I’d been to as many venues as you can be on the northern beaches. I was just waiting for one of those venues to come up as somewhere you had to get tested,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.
“Sure enough, for the first time this year, I went into the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices last Thursday … and that was the one day in the CBD someone had tested positive.”
He praised the northern beaches community for its “extraordinary” response to the outbreak after just seven new cases were linked to the cluster on Tuesday.
READ MORE: State parochialism drives border closures
Scott W. Atlas 5.25pm: A pandemic of misinformation
America has been paralysed by death and fear for nearly a year, and the politicisation of the pandemic has made things worse by adding misinformation and vitriol to the mix. With vaccines finally being administered, we should be entering a joyous phase. Instead we endure still more inflammatory rhetoric and media distortion.
Americans need to understand three realities. First, all 50 states independently directed and implemented their own pandemic policies. In every case, governors and local officials were responsible for on-the-ground choices — every business limit, school closing, shelter-in-place order and mask requirement. No policy on any of these issues was set by the federal government, except those involving federal property and employees.
5.15pm: INTERACTIVE: The state of our borders
Paul Garvey 4.47pm: WA to drop hard border with SA for Christmas
Western Australia will drop its hard border with South Australia from midnight on Christmas Eve, opening the door for last-minute Christmas reunions for families currently divided by the Nullabor.
Christmas Day will mark 28 days since the last case of community transmission of the virus in South Australia, officially achieving the required threshold for WA to drop its mandatory 14 days of quarantine for arrivals from the state.
People in NSW, however, will have to wait until late January at the earliest before they are permitted to enter WA without quarantining.
WA premier Mark McGowan thanked the public for their patience.
“I understand many people with family and friends in South Australia had their Christmas plans changed due to the recent SA outbreak, so it’s very pleasing to be able to make this safe adjustment in line with health advice,” he said.
South Australia will be reclassified as a 'very low risk' jurisdiction for WA's controlled interstate border as of 12:01am on Christmas Day.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) December 22, 2020
This change will mean that travellers from SA no longer need to undertake 14 days quarantine, though other requirements remain in place. pic.twitter.com/bEs6PCeOfv
Mr McGowan again defended WA’s tough stance on its borders, which he says have been a key part of the state’s defence against the virus.
WA has now gone more than eight months without a case of community transmission and has shown sharp improvements in its economy.
“I’ve always avoided setting arbitrary dates when it comes to border arrangements because doing so means straying from health advice, and as we’ve seen with recent events from SA and NSW, the virus can enter in a flash and wreak havoc,” he said.
“We cannot let our guard down. Throughout the pandemic Western Australians have shown that if we follow the health advice we can stay safe and we’re able to better protect our community. It’s so important we stay the course and stay safe.”
Speaking on Perth radio on Tuesday morning, Mr McGowan said he was very pleased with the fall in new case numbers in NSW but confirmed the state would need to go 28 days without a case before WA would allow a resumption of quarantine-free travel from NSW.
“I’m very pleased for NSW and very pleased for all the people who were at risk. I think the shutdown of the northern beaches ... was a good decision and I think that will have helped. They’re not out of the woods yet but it’s really very, very positive,” he said.
“We have to be very careful and you just don’t know if it got out anywhere else at this point in time. They’ve had a lot of testing, not many cases which is a great sign but we just will be careful.”
READ MORE: State parochialism, self-interest drives border closures
Jack Paynter 4.30pm: Virus alert issued 280km from Sydney cluster
Sydney’s virus outbreak has spread 280km into regional NSW with the city of Orange, in the state's central west, added to the COVID hotspot list.
A close contact of an infected healthcare worker from western Sydney reported in Tuesday’s numbers tested positive for COVID-19, health authorities said.
NSW Health on Tuesday afternoon warned that person travelled through Orange on Saturday, December 19.
They attended Orange Health Service and all close contacts have been identified, have self-isolated and have undergone testing returning negative results.
However anyone who attended Orange Central Square Shopping Centre (227-239 Summer Street) on Saturday, December 19 between 4.05-4.15pm is considered “a casual contact who should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately”.
“The person did not enter any stores or come into close contact with any individual during this time period,” NSW Health said.
Patrick Commins 4.03pm: Tourism jobs plunged by 113,000 this year
The number of tourism jobs has plunged by 113,000 this year, with more than one in seven Australians employed in the sector losing work over the course of the year as the twin horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Summer bushfires smashed domestic and international holiday travel.
The new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirmed tourism as one of the hardest hit segments of the economy in 2020, despite a 4 per cent lift in tourism and tourism-related jobs over the three months to September to 634,000 – the lowest level of employment since 2013.
The jobs recovery over the latest quarter followed six months of job shedding and as social distancing restrictions were eased around much of the country. But it still left tourism and tourism-related employment 15 per cent below the 747,100 employed at the end of 2019, and 13 per cent lower than the September quarter of last year.
Tourism looks to be once again one of the biggest losers from the reimposition of travel restrictions just ahead of the summer holidays.
James Hall 3.20pm: Fears of virus spread despite low numbers
NSW health authorities are concerned the northern beaches cluster has spread through greater Sydney and have pleaded with residents across the major city to be cautious.
Just seven new infections were added to the outbreak from Avalon on Tuesday morning, taking the cluster’s total number to 90, but chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said these new cases have been detected beyond the original sites.
“Clearly we are seeing some venue transmission in other sites outside the Avalon RSL and the Avalon bowlo,” she told reporters, referring to the two venues responsible for the most infections related to the northern beaches cluster.
“We are concerned in transmission events occurring outside the northern beaches because residents in those areas are not subject to the same lockdown provisions as in the northern beaches.”
Health authorities have zeroed in on venues known to be locations of community transmission outside of the northern beaches, including Erskineville pub The Rose of Australia, Alimentari Cafe in Paddington and BodyFit Gym in Blacktown.
Those in Sydney’s upper north shore are also being urged to get tested after coronavirus was detected in sewage systems at a treatment plant in Hornsby Heights.
It was also discovered in sewage systems on Saturday December 19 from the sewerage system that drains parts of Berowra, Cowan, Berowra Heights, Hornsby Heights, Mount Colah, Mount Kuring-Gai, Asquith and Hornsby.
Meanwhile, a new case is being investigated and is not believed to be linked to the northern beaches cluster.
This person, a health care worker from Sydney’s western suburbs, was involved in the transfer of patients from the international airport.
“This case has transported several patients but we have identified that they also have transferred positive COVID cases,” Dr Chant said on Tuesday.
“We are obviously doing urgent genome sequencing to confirm that is the source of their infection and those results will be available later today.
“A close workplace contact of this health care worker has come back positive since the 8pm figures and that will be included in the account for tomorrow.”
READ MORE: Full list of virus-affected venues in Sydney
Rhiannon Down 3.04pm: ‘We can deal with travellers despite new UK strain’
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says despite the “emerging concern” of a new highly virulent strain of COVID-19 in the UK, Australia is in the position to deal with the threat.
He said only four returned travellers had tested positive to the new strain out of the 2,500 positive cases recorded in hotel quarantine during the pandemic.
“Here in Australia, we have our ways of dealing with people coming from overseas in terms of our hotel quarantine system, and that has been extremely effective in controlling any virus that may be coming from other parts of the world,” he said.
He said there was still no indication that the strain led to a more severe illness and travellers from the U.K would continue to be welcomed.
“We have a lot of Australian citizens that live in the UK right now, wanting to come back to Australia, and we still are welcoming them.”
READ MORE: ‘Out of control’ strain cut UK from world
Rhiannon Down 2.53pm: International arrival nurse among 21 new cases
Australia recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases across all states and territories yesterday, including a nurse who worked in transporting international arrivals from the airport to hotel quarantine.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the nurse was not likely to be linked to the Avalon cluster, though genomic testing was yet to confirm this.
Mr Kelly said despite the ballooning northern beaches cluster Australia had recorded no new deaths. 22 people were in hospital but none were in intensive care.
Some 76,000 tests were taken Australia wide yesterday with 44,000 in NSW — potentially a new record for the country according to the CMO.
READ MORE: Gladys much faster than dithering Dan
Finn McHugh 2.05pm: Cabinet gets first virtual swearing-in
A new-look federal cabinet has been rubber-stamped in the nation’s first virtual swearing-in ceremony.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Governor-General David Hurley were both at Government House in Canberra for the Tuesday ceremony.
But ministers took their oath or affirmation via videolink, as coronavirus restrictions made in-person attendance impossible.
The ceremony was forced online after the ACT imposed restrictions requiring arrivals from Greater Sydney to undergo 14 days in self-isolation.
Former education minister Dan Tehan has officially moved to the trade portfolio, replacing now-Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.
Mr Tehan will be tasked with leading Australia’s response to Beijing’s trade aggression after months of Chinese sanctions on Australian industries.
He brings a wealth of experience in international relations after joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a graduate in 1995.
On the announcement of his new role, Mr Tehan pledged to “engage, listen and work tirelessly to advance Australia’s trade interests”.
“Australia’s relationship with the world has been an enduring interest and passion of mine. I walked in the front doors of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1995 as a graduate and it is a great honour to be returning as the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment 25 years later,” he said.
“I have always strived to engage constructively with all nations and this will be the approach I will continue to take.”
Mr Tehan’s old role has been filled by Alan Tudge, who moves on from his role as acting immigration minister.
Liberal Senator Jane Hume has also been promoted to Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology, after the prime minister pledged to “bring forward new talent as Australia continues its comeback from the COVID-19 crisis”.
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck has been sidelined, retaining the title, but the aged care portfolio has been elevated to cabinet under the responsibility of Health Minister Greg Hunt.
The move came after a difficult 12 months in aged care, with nearly 700 people in nursing homes dying during the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: Economy a priority over climate change
Rachel Baxendale 1.41pm: Victorian hotel inquiry ‘failed to get the truth’
Victoria’s opposition has seized on comments from former health minister Jenny Mikakos and former police commissioner Graham Ashton, suggesting they have both indicated there is “more to be found out” than was revealed in Monday’s Coate inquiry report on the Andrews government’s bungled hotel quarantine program.
In a statement released on Twitter late on Monday, Ms Mikakos accused Premier Daniel Andrews of running “another masterclass in political deflection” in his response to the inquiry, and called for Mr Andrews’ redacted phone records to be made public.
In an interview published in Tuesday’s Australian, Mr Ashton expressed disappointment that the person who made the decision to use private security guards rather than police or ADF personnel to enforce hotel quarantine in Victoria “seems determined to remain anonymous”.
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the former top officials’ comments showed the Coate inquiry had “failed to get the truth”.
“The former health minister clearly knows more. She, and former police commissioner Graham Ashton are all inferring that there is more to be said and more to be found out, and we really deserve to understand exactly what went on,” Ms Crozier said.
A review published on Monday into COVID-19 outbreaks at two Victorian nursing homes in July that saw 83 lives lost found the federal government-administered facilities had inadequate emergency planning, suboptimal infection control and faltering leadership during the crisis.
READ MORE: Leaders, planning blamed for aged care crisis
Jess Malcolm 1.26pm: McGowan’s Christmas gift to South Australia
Mark McGowan has confirmed travellers from South Australia will not need to undertake 14 days quarantine as of 12.01am on Christmas Day.
In a statement on Twitter the West Australian Premier said that South Australia will be reclassified as ‘very low risk’ following the latest public health advice and pending there are no further outbreaks.
“All through this pandemic, we have followed the expert health advice — it has kept WA safe and strong,” Mr McGowan said.
“I know many people with family and friends in South Australia and have had their Christmas plans changed due to the recent SA outbreak — so I’m very glad to be able to make this safe adjustment in line with health advice.”
Travellers will still need to hold a pass stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms as well as a health screening and temperature test upon arrival into Perth airport.
READ MORE: Symes named new Victorian Attorney-General
Jade Gailberger 1.19pm: Contagious strain puts UK flights in doubt
Flights from the UK to Australia could be brought to a halt over concerns about a new highly infectious coronavirus strain.
Two people undertaking hotel quarantine in Sydney have been found to have the new variant, which prompted travel-related stocks to fall over the past 24 hours.
Countries across the world, including France and other European nations, have slapped travel bans on the people entering from the UK and shut trade routes, giving rise to food shortage concerns.
Transport Minister Michael McCormack was asked on Tuesday if Australia was considering stopping flights from the UK.
“Indeed,” Mr McCormack told ABC Radio National.
“We continue to review all of these arrangements.”
Mr McCormack said the two people in Sydney with the variant were a concern and that Australia’s expert medical panel was meeting daily with the prime minister.
“It is not just a concern for Australia, it’s a concern worldwide,” he said.
“We continue to monitor these and will act accordingly.”
Australian chief medical officer Paul Kelly on Monday said stopping flights from the UK was not yet necessary.
“There has been more transmission in recent times in southeast of the UK and that may be associated with the virus,” Professor Kelly said.
“Everyone coming from the UK is going into 14 days of hotel quarantine and they are of no risk as that quarantine works so successfully, as it has done for the most part here in Australia since the beginning.”
More than 38,000 Australians stuck overseas have registered to come home with Australia’s foreign affairs department.
— NCA Newswire
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MacKenzie Scott 12.24pm: Woman fined $4000 for border breach — twice
A Sydney woman has been dealt a $4000 fine for attempting to enter Queensland twice from a declared hotspot.
The woman allegedly attempted to drive into the state shortly before 5am on Tuesday morning, telling police at a newly-established checkpoint on the Gold Coast Highway she had not come from Greater Sydney.
After being turned away, it is alleged she drove 15 minutes to another checkpoint where she again lied to police about her whereabouts. The woman was given a $4003 on-the-spot fine.
Chief superintendent Mark Wheeler said Sydneysiders were still trying to get into the state for Christmas celebrations. By 4pm yesterday afternoon, 57 vehicles carrying 115 people from hotspots had been turned away at the border.
“There are still significant numbers of people who want to come into Queensland and they simply can’t because of where they are coming from, a COVID-19 hotspot,” chief Superintendent Wheeler said.
“I think we all know it would only take one or two of those people to come in COVID-19 positive to have that disease spreading through our community.
“There are absolutely people who try to game the system.They are being selfish, they are potentially putting the Queensland community at risk and this is the reason we have had to go to a hard border.”
Queensland border checkpoints were reinstated overnight at all major border crossings following an increase in the number of NSW cases.
Returning Queenslanders clogged up checkpoints on Monday as they tried to beat Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s 1am Tuesday curfew, with some forced to wait up to two hours in traffic
READ MORE: China trade problem isn’t really about trade
Jess Malcolm 12.13pm: Urgent tracing to locate source of new unlinked case
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says the eighth case recorded in today’s COVID-19 numbers is still under investigation, with one further positive case confirmed at 8pm last night which will be included in tomorrow’s numbers.
The case in today’s numbers is a healthcare worker from western Sydney who was involved in transferring patients from the international airport. Health authorities are scrambling to identify if there are any further cases.
Dr Chant has confirmed that they are conducting genomic sequencing to figure out if the new case from late last night is linked to the healthcare worker. Dr Chant said the new case is thought to be a close workplace contact and the results of this testing will be available later today.
READ MORE: Jack the Insider — State parochialsim, self-interest drives border lockdowns
Jess Malcolm 11.40am: Premier can’t yet make decision on Christmas
Gladys Berejiklian says the policy settings put in place by the NSW government are working, and the trend is “going where we want it to go” but she is unable to make any premature decisions about Christmas.
Millions of Sydney residents will have to wait until tomorrow’s announcement to find out what Christmas will look like on Friday, yet thousands will already be in self-isolation over the festive season as the list of covid exposure venues continues to balloon.
Despite the declining case numbers, the NSW Premier reaffirmed that the threat of the virus is “still there” and stressed that people must stay home even after receiving a negative test result if they are a confirmed close contact.
“The reason why people are in quarantine for 14 days or isolated for 14 days is because you might be negative on day 2 but on day 10 you might be positive,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“These are part of the weapons in our armoury that we’re able to deploy to control the virus to the extent we have but we also appreciate any experience that volatility is there,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“You might have low case numbers one day and they might creep back up. I would much rather be hovering where we are now than where we were two or three days ago.”
READ MORE: Sloan — Open slather on foreign students has gone too far
Amber Plum 11.36am: Retail sales soar 7pc in November, ABS data show
Australian retail sales jumped by 7.0 per cent, month-on-month, in November, seasonally adjusted, according to preliminary data from the ABS, smashing expectations as consumers opened their wallets ahead of Christmas.
The rise was 13.2 per cent annually, seasonally adjusted.
Consensus estimates had been for a rise of 2.0 per cent, sharply up from October’s 1.4 per cent rise in seasonally adjusted sales.
Last week, a Westpac consumption survey found Australians were planning to cut back this Christmas season but would use their spending power to support local businesses.
Westpac’s survey found 45 per cent of Australians still held concerns about the health of the economy, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
FOLLOW live ASX updates at Trading Day
Adeshola Ore 11.28am: PM responsible for national borders: Albanese
Anthony Albanese has called on Scott Morrison to deliver more leadership in response to Sydney’s northern beaches COVID cluster.
NSW health authorities have reported an additional eight coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including seven linked to the Avalon cluster.
“Scott Morrison also has a responsibility to provide more national leadership,’’ the Opposition Leader said in Sydney. “It’s not good enough for him to pass off that responsibility every time something gets difficult
“He quite clearly is responsible for our national borders, and he is responsible for national quarantine.”
Mr Albanese also revealed his chief of staff and media adviser had attended a Sydney exposure site, but have tested negative to the virus.
NSW Health have named an office building at 1 Bligh Street in the Sydney CBD as an exposure site linked to the Avalon cluster. The building is home to multiple workplaces, including the Commonwealth Parliament Office.
Anyone who attended the venue during 10.30am-10.50am last Thursday is considered a casual contact and should monitor themselves for symptoms and get tested if they appear.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — Holgate mistake will haunt Morrison
Jess Malcolm 11.04am: NSW records just eight cases out of 44,000 tests
Gladys Berejiklian says NSW has recorded eight new cases of COVID-19, with seven cases linked to the Avalon cluster.
.
NSW recorded eight locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, and an additional 10 cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 22, 2020
Seven of the locally acquired cases are linked to the Avalon cluster and one remains under investigation. pic.twitter.com/W8XKS7uZ3t
Gladys Berejiklian says NSW has recorded eight new cases of COVID-19, with seven cases linked to the Avalon cluster.
Following a testing record of 44,466 carried out up until 8pm yesterday, the NSW Premier flagged concern that even though case numbers are low, the number of venues are rapidly growing each day meaning the risk of transmission across Sydney is still high.
“When you have people with the virus who have attended venues outside of the northern beaches community, it always increases our concern to make sure there isn’t a permanent seeding event created by any of those venues,” Ms Berejiklian said on Tuesday morning.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the eighth case which is still under investigation is a healthcare worker from western Sydney who was involved in the transfer of patients from the international airport.
“We are obviously doing urgent genome sequencing to confirm that that is the source of their infection and those results will be available later today,” Dr Chant said.
In addition to those under strict lockdown in the northern beaches, the growing list of exposed venues across Sydney means there will be “thousands and thousands” of NSW residents who will be forced into isolation this Christmas and New Years.
“Depending on your circumstances, you may well be in isolation over the Christmas period and I just wanted to say that we are thinking of you and thanking you because you being safe and protecting you and your loved ones is helping all of us in the state of New South Wales,” Ms Berejiklian said.
KIERAN GAIR 10.51am: Sydney motorists fined waiting for Covid tests
Nine motorists were fined on Saturday while waiting to undergo a COVID-19 test at a drive through clinic in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The Australian understands that some of the traffic infringement notices were related to motorists who had allegedly been using their phones while stationary.
In a statement, NSW Police said officers had conducted a review of the fines and had decided to re-issue seven motorists with a caution.
However, offices also upheld traffic fines that were imposed on two motorists, police said.
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Jess Malcolm 10.17am: Victorian case ‘visited several Sydney exposure sites’
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley says Victoria’s newly acquired case of coronavirus is a 15-year-old girl from Moonee Valley who had visited “several of the high risk exposure sites” in Sydney and is now isolating at home.
Despite this new case, Victoria has continued its streak, recording it’s 53rd day without community transmission following over 15,500 tests conducted yesterday.
All close contacts of the person’s family have been interviewed and the Victorian department of health are following up any secondary close contacts and given this person and their family have been isolating at home there are no known exposure sites in Victoria.
He has urged anyone who has returned from the northern beaches area, greater Sydney or central coast to get tested and quarantine for 12 days as per the new restrictions.
“Anybody who arrives or is found from a red zone in Victoria will be immediately taken into the hotel quarantine system for the duration of their quarantine period,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Foley said there have been 17 people, including a family of five, who have been transferred to Victoria’s hotel quarantine program, after allegedly crossing into Victoria after the border restrictions came into effect.
“So, my message to anyone trying to enter Victoria from New South Wales is — don’t,’’ he said. “You won’t get in, and if you do, you’ll be spending your time at Christmas and New Year in hotel quarantine,” Mr Foley said.
READ the full story here
Eli Greenblat 10.04am: Woolies limits toilet paper, other groceries purchases
Woolworths is imposing buying limits at around 200 of its supermarkets in the Greater Sydney area to prevent panic buying in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the city’s northern beaches that could see stocks run low of key grocery items.
Woolworths announced on Tuesday morning that it has today reinstated a two pack purchase limit both in-store and online for toilet paper and paper towel across Greater Sydney.
It said the precautionary move follows an increase in demand for toilet paper in pockets of Sydney and will help ensure Woolworths customers have fair access to these products over the Christmas period.
There are also concerns that shoppers who cant secure groceries in their local suburbs will drive further out and into other areas which could counter the pleas by the state government for Sydney residents to remain in their homes or within their local areas so as to not further spread COVID-19.
Woolworths said it has tripled toilet paper order volumes in NSW and is set to deliver more than 400,000 packs into its NSW stores this week.
Woolworths Supermarkets New South Wales general manager, Michael Mackenzie said: “We’ve continued to see a steady increase in demand for toilet paper across different parts of Sydney in the past 24 hours.’’
READ the full story here
Jess Malcolm 9.56am: Lengthy delays hit NSW-Queensland border
Travellers are experiencing major delays on the NSW-Queensland border after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk reinstigated the hard border amid Sydney’s northern cluster outbreak.
Hundreds of drivers are backed up in queues trying to get through border checkpoints which were rolled out last night and manned with police since 1am on Tuesday morning.
Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler told Seven’s Sunrise there were 57 vehicles containing 115 people which had already been turned around as they had come directly from hotspots in NSW.
“What we saw overnight, particularly leading to the 1am deadline long lines, long delays but our police showed a great initiative and worked with returning Queensland residents, work with them and identified who they were, got them through to comply with the 1am deadline,” Mr Wheeler said on Tuesday morning.
“There were a lot of expenses for those people turned around, sent to airports and into hotel quarantine.”
The Queensland government announced yesterday that NSW must achieve 28 consecutive days of no community transmission before it will consider re-opening the border.
READ MORE: Full new list of Sydney’s affected venues
PATRICK COMMINS 9.48am: Consumer confidence tumbles on Sydney outbreak
Sydney’s northern beaches coronavirus outbreak has sent consumer confidence tumbling for only the second time in 16 weeks.
The ANZ-Roy Morgan sentiment survey conducted over the weekend shows a 2 per cent drop in confidence, led by a sharp 5.3 per cent fall in Sydney - its steepest decrease since July.
The only other week confidence has dropped in over four months coincided with Adelaide’s short lockdown in November to suppress an outbreak in the South Australian capital.
A stream of negative headlines has had an effect on confidence outside the Premier State, even before the reimposition of border controls.
Confidence weakened in Victoria — down 2.9 — per cent, while sentiment also worsened in Queensland and the Northern Territory, the ANZ report said.
ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said “the lockdown of the suburbs around Sydney’s northern beaches and the state border closures have reminded people that material downside risks remain”.
Still, at 109 points, the sentiment index remains close to its long term average of 112pts. It’s also well above pre-COVID levels, and miles above the lows of around 65 during the initial phases of the pandemic earlier this year.
Consumption drove the 3.3 per cent rebound in growth over the September quarter, and with over $100bn in savings accumulated by households through the pandemic, confidence to spend will be the key to a continued recovery in 2021.
READ MORE: Ikea posts loss despite sales surge
Lilly Vitorovich 9.37am: PM’s office, law firms in virus-hit CBD tower
One of Sydney’s most prestigious CBD addresses — 1 Bligh St — has been named on a watchlist by NSW Health asking people who were at the location to get tested immediately and self isolate until the test results come in.
Major tenants of the 1 Bligh St building include the Sydney Commonwealth Parliament offices, which also includes the Prime Minister’s Office, law firm Claton Utz, financial information major Bloomberg and energy firm Oil Search. NSW Health has put the warning in place for anyone who attended the building between 10.30am to 10.50pm on Thursday December 17.
READ MORE: Bureaucratic beast unleashed second wave chaos
Agencies 9.20am: Biden receives vaccine live on TV
President-elect Joe Biden received the Covid-19 vaccine in a televised appearance from a Delaware hospital in which he encouraged the public to get vaccinated.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale 9.19am: Victoria picks up virus case from interstate
Victoria has recorded an “interstate acquired” case of coronavirus amid NSW’s northern beaches cluster.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the case had been acquired by a Victorian traveller in the northern beaches area of NSW.
The case is the first Australian-acquired case in the state in 53 days, and comes as another two internationally acquired cases were recorded in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of active cases in Victoria to 11 — all of them in quarantine.
The numbers come after 15,521 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Tuesday.
Health Minister Martin Foley and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton are expected to address the media at 10am.
Yesterday there were 0 new local cases and no lives lost. 1 new case was acquired interstate, 2 international - these cases are in quarantine. 15,521 test results were received. If you have symptoms, get tested and stay home. https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/m7VzFfS3BV
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) December 21, 2020
Premier Daniel Andrews is also expected to unveil his fourth cabinet reshuffle for 2020 on Tuesday, following the retirement from the front bench of attorney-general Jill Hennessy, who will remain in parliament.
It will be Mr Andrews’ last day at work before he takes a fortnight’s leave.
— With NCA Newswire
READ the full story about Victoria’s new virus case here
Adeshola Ore 9.04am: ADF troops ‘needed for extreme weather season’
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has defended the decision to not send 300 Australian Defence Force troops to Victoria’s border, saying the personnel are required for the upcoming extreme weather season.
On Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was “not happy” his request for 300 additional ADF troops to be stationed on Victoria’s border with NSW had been turned down.
Senator Reynolds said there are currently 250 defence personnel in Victoria who are supporting the police.
“We have provided another 50 to support the Victorian Police on the borders,” she told Channel 9.
“While we don’t have personnel that we can allocate to borders in Victoria and elsewhere, we are doing what we can to support the police.”
Senator Reynolds said state and territory leaders had been warned in September that support from the ADF would be wound back in the coming months.
“It is important that we bring our forces back and we rebalance so that the defence forces are ready to support Australians but also our overseas friends in the high-risk weather season.”
Senator Reynolds said there were 1500 defence personnel deployed across the country for COVID logistics and planning tasks.
Senator Reynolds said no additional ADF personnel had been deployed to assist with the Avalon outbreak in Sydney’s northern beaches.
“We are working very closely with the NSW officials. We haven’t had any direct request for support,” Senator Reynolds said.
“We are on stand-by. But at the moment the NSW authorities really are doing a superb job.”
READ MORE: Swell times ahead as calm descends on centre of storm
Jess Malcolm 8.49am: Business calls for national cabinet to reconvene
Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott is calling for a reconvening of the national cabinet amid the latest outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches, raising concern for business and consumer confidence which has been “shot”.
Border closures, lengthy airport and road queues and communication bungles are just some of the chaos that has been caused since all states and territories shut their borders to NSW following the spike in COVID-19 cases from the Avalon cluster.
Ms Westacott there needs to be greater clarity around what can trigger border closures because the current uncertainty is unsustainable.
“What we are simply asking for is for national cabinet to reconvene and get a plan that allows some kind of understanding about what the rules are going to be, what the trigger points are going to be... because we just cannot go on like this,” Ms Westacott said speaking on Seven’s Sunrise on Tuesday morning.
“Confidence has been shot. The second is frustration and confusion. We are hearing stories that people have had millions and millions of dollars of cancellations.”
READ MORE: Airlines demand rules to end Covid chaos
Jade Gailberger 8.34am: ‘How did US workers get VIP quarantine treatment?’
Labor MP Bill Shorten has slammed the US consulate in Sydney for flying a group of American labourers to Australia to carry out construction works.
At least a dozen contractors were granted exemptions to travel to Australia on skilled worker visas over the past month, according to Nine News.
The US consulate argued that the works had to be carried out by US citizens with appropriate security clearances, and that workers did undergo hotel quarantine.
#BREAKING: A group of Americans were flown to Australia during the #COVID19 pandemic to carry out construction work on the U.S. consulate in Sydney. @jekearsley #9News pic.twitter.com/a9HHq7f1gW
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) December 21, 2020
Speaking on Today, Mr Shorten said tens of thousands of Australians who want to come home couldn’t due to limited space in hotel quarantine.
“How on earth can there be the VIP treatment, legal or not?” he said.
“It doesn’t quite to me past the pub test.”
He also questioned why Australian businesses could not get the work.
“Why aren’t Australian construction and building trades doing the work?” he said.
“Why do we need someone from America to work on an airconditioning system in Australia? We can do that.” —NCA Newswire
READ MORE: Editorial — NSW approach put to the test
Jess Malcolm 8.15am: Health Minister ‘feeling positive’ about NSW numbers
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he is feeling “quite positive” ahead of the government’s announcement of COVID-19 numbers at 11am this morning, reaffirming that New Year’s Eve plans can go ahead in accordance with health advice.
With Sydney on a knife’s-edge following an outbreak in COVID-19 cases in the northern beaches area all Sydneysiders and the rest of Australia await the announcement of today’s numbers to see what Christmas will look like on Friday.
“We would all like to have a normal Christmas but whether that will be viable we will have to wait until tomorrow,” Mr Hazzard told ABC RN Breakfast.
With some health experts calling for New Years Eve events to be cancelled over concern it could trigger a mass outbreak, Mr Hazzard defended the government’s decisions for plans to go ahead, saying they are following the health advice.
“We have had no contrary advice. Those views come from our expert NSW Health team,” Mr Hazzard said.
Mr Hazzard also asked people to understand that there is limited capacity for testing clinics, following reports of people waiting up to six hours at clinics with some people turned away.
“We’re in a war and when you’re in a war you have to have all individuals take part,” Mr Hazzard said.
READ MORE: Cars off the road as new cluster puts brakes on
Jess Malcolm 7.50am: ‘Show consideration’ during Covid-affected Christmas
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has urged businesses and consumers to “show a bit of consideration” amid the COVID-19 outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches, which has thrown into disarray the Christmas plans of millions of Australians.
With borders closed, Greater Sydney residents await Wednesday’s NSW cabinet crisis meeting which will determine restrictions over the Christmas period.
“I’d really urge both businesses and consumers to show a bit of consideration and a bit of patience in both directions. That’s for tourism operators, wherever they possibly can, to process refunds swiftly, to arrange travel credits as quickly as possible,” Mr Birmingham told ABC News Breakfast.
“For consumers, they should also recognise that these are businesses, often small businesses, dealing with huge waves of changes and cancellations coming at short notice with lots of customer inquiries.”
READ MORE: Swell times ahead as calm descends on centre of a storm
Jess Malcolm 7.40am: Masks ‘should be mandatory indoors’, McKay says
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay says the NSW Government should mandate masks for indoor venues, saying she does not believe people will wear them otherwise.
Amid the northern beaches outbreak which saw 15 locally acquired cases yesterday, the NSW Government has recommended the wearing of masks, but continues to resist mandating it.
“We’ve had over 11 ferry and bus and train routes where there has been somebody using the routes who has coronavirus. So it is important that we’re looking at high risk situations,” Ms McKay told ABC News Breakfast.
“My view is that until it’s mandatory, people won’t wear a mask. It’s really uncomfortable. It makes you feel very anxious, so I do think that it is really important that it is part of the health order here in New South Wales.”
READ MORE: Residents queue all day just to get tested
Jess Malcolm 7.15am: UK flight bans trigger food shortage warnings
More than 40 countries have now banned flights from the UK following the emergence of a significantly more contagious variant of COVID-19, triggering concerns of food shortages.
With many flights stuck on the tarmac, supermarket chains have warned there could be food shortages in the coming weeks.
However, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was confident Britain could cope with any delays to freight arriving in the country.
Overnight, France suspended cross-channel traffic from the UK, with Mr Johnson promising to “sort it out in the next few hours”. European Union officials will meet in Brussels to decide on a designated response to stop the spread of the new variant from Britain.
Despite widespread fear, the World Health Organisation said the new coronavirus variant was not yet out of control. Emergencies chief Michael Ryan said the emerging strain “can be stopped ... but it cannot be left to its own devices”.
In the latest update to vaccine news overnight, the Pfizer vaccine has been given the greenlight in the EU and will be rolled out within a week. This comes after the vaccine roll out began in the USA and the UK earlier this month.
Over 500,000 doses of the @Pfizer/@BioNTech_Group vaccine have been given to people across the United Kingdom to protect those most at risk from coronavirus.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 21, 2020
Thank you to to all our scientists, NHS staff & volunteers who have made this possible. pic.twitter.com/ALNdpVKP28
READ MORE: ASX to slip as UK virus variant prompts market sell-off
Jess Malcolm 6.25am: NSW adds more venues to virus alert list
NSW Health has named a number of new venues as potential COVID-19 exposure sites as the Avalon cluster threatens to spread across wider Sydney.
After 15 cases of coronavirus reported yesterday following a record number of nearly 40,000 tests, the NSW government were cautiously optimistic.
But with a Paddington pub and cafe, a gym in Alexandria and multiple venues in the Sydney CBD added to the list, the threat of the outbreak seeding across wider Sydney continues to persist.
-Macquarie Shopping Centre (various), Cnr Herring Rd &, Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Park: Monday, 13 December 11am-1pm
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 21, 2020
Please note change of advice from test immediately and isolate to casual contact – monitor for symptoms and test if they appear.
Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the times specified is considered a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result:
■ Paragon Hotel, 1 Loftus St, Sydney: Wednesday, December 16, 12.45pm-3.30pm
■ Cortex Gym — strength and conditioning class, 1 Bowden Street: December 15
■ London Hotel, 85 Underwood St, Paddington: Thursday, December 17, 8.15pm-9.30pm
■ United Cinemas, 39 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach: Tuesday, December 15, 12pm-2.15pm
■ BodyFit Gym, 27 Sackville St, Blacktown: Wednesday, December 16, 7am-8am, Thursday, December 17, 7am-8am, Friday, 18 December 7am-8am
■ Park House Hotel, 2 Park St, Mona Vale: Wednesday, December 16, 8pm-10pm
■ Pilates KX, Shop 5/1 Mona Vale Rd Mona Vale: Monday, December 14, 7pm-9pm
■ The Boatshed Cafe & Bar, Lower Level 11 Narrabeen Street, Narrabeen NSW 2107: Monday, December 14, 2pm-3pm
■ Sankaku Izakaya Newport, 376 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Thursday, December 17, 2.30pm-3.30pm
■ Lovat Restaurant, 316-324 Barrenjoey Road, Newport: Tuesday, December 15, 6.30pm-8.30pm. Patrons sitting inside or staff working on the floor at the bar are close contacts and must get tested and isolate for 14 days even if a negative result is received
■ Headland Private Tennis Court (inside clubhouse and outside on courts), Warriewood: Monday, December 14, 9.30am-12pm
■ United Cinemas Warriewood, 4 Vuko Place, Warriewood: Tuesday, December 15, 12pm-2.30pm
■ The Anglers Rest, 216 Brooklyn Rd, Brooklyn: Thursday, December 17, 5.30pm-7.15pm
■ Paddington Alimentari, 2 Hopetoun St, Paddington: Thursday December 17, 5.30am-6pm, Friday, December 18, 5.30am-6pm, Saturday, 19 December 5.30am-6pm
■ Arthouse Hotel, 275 Pitt St, Sydney: Thursday, December 17, 11.15am-12.15pm
■ McDonalds Restaurant, Warriewood Rd, Warriewood: Thursday, December 17, 1.30pm-2pm
■ Warriewood Square – Kmart, Rebel Sport, Woolworths, Aldi, and Surf Dive N Ski12 Jackson Road, Warriewood: Tuesday, December 8, 12.30pm-2.15pm
Please note that Asquith Golf Course is no longer considered a risk and has been removed from the list of venues of concern.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 21, 2020
Anyone who attended one of the following venues at the times specified is asked to immediately get tested and isolate until NSW Health provides further information:
■ The House Nail Salon, 24 Avalon Parade, Avalon: Monday, December 14, 10.30am-11.30am
■ Woolworths, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach: Tuesday, December 15, 7.00pm-7.30pm
■ Rowland Reserve Dog Park, Pittwater Road, Bayview: Wednesday, December 16, 4pm-5pm, Thursday 17 December 4pm-5pm
■ USA Nails 788A Pacific Highway, Gordon: Thursday, December 17, 12.30pm-1.30pm
■ Lovat Restaurant, 316-324 Barrenjoey Road, Newport, Friday, December 18, 6.30pm-8.30pm
■ Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, 16 Mitala St, Newport: Wednesday, December 16, 5pm-6pm
■ Shot Lab, 1/326-330 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Tuesday, December 15, 11am-12pm
■ Premier Academy League Under 8s, Macquarie University Soccer Field: Sunday, December 13, 9am-11am
■ Pronto Creative Foods, 1095 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach: Wednesday, December 16, 7.30am-8.30am, Thursday17 December 7.30am-8.30am
■ Warriewood Square, 12 Jackson Road, Warriewood: Tuesday, December 15, 3.30pm-4.30pm, Wednesday, 16 December 11am-12.15pm, Thursday 17 December 11am-3pm
Yoni Bashan 5.15am: Christmas miracle? New case numbers crucial
The NSW government is cautiously optimistic that its strategy to reduce COVID-19 infections using a localised lockdown of Sydney’s northern beaches has succeeded in time for Christmas, with officials hopeful the cluster of cases around Avalon will remain contained over the coming days.
But ahead of a crisis cabinet meeting to decide whether restrictions should be adjusted on Wednesday, federal health officials have privately warned that this week will pose the greatest test for the city, as the outbreak surpasses its incubation period and further infections emerge.
“New cases may start to pop up from (today) and Wednesday,” said one senior federal health official, who was not authorised to speak publicly. “If they don’t, then I suspect they (NSW) will be largely in the clear.”
There were 15 new coronavirus infections linked to the northern beaches cluster in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Sunday, half the number recorded during the previous reporting period, taking the total to 83 cases.
Despite the limited number of new cases, Queensland moved on Monday to institute a hard border with NSW. Annastacia Palaszczuk announced concrete barriers and a heavy police presence would be raised along the border, with January 8 marking the earliest it could be dismantled.
Victoria is also unlikely to reopen its border with NSW even if new infections decrease, with the state’s Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, warning there were “absolutely exposure sites outside of the (northern beaches)”.
“Those exposure sites are sometimes busy places,” Dr Sutton said. “There is every reason to think there might be cases now emerging outside of the northern beaches area.”
Read the full story here.
Ewin Hannan 5am: ’Master of deflection’ Dan Andrews blames bad culture
Daniel Andrews has conceded a scathing report handed down by the hotel quarantine inquiry shows a bureaucracy riddled with a poor culture was responsible for Victoria’s deadly COVID-19 crisis — as his former health minister accused her one-time political ally of “political deflection”.
The Victorian Premier apologised for the second wave that claimed more than 800 lives and said a “culture change” was needed within the state’s bureaucracy.
The inquiry, led by former Family Court judge Jennifer Coate, found the lack of any approval for use of guards would “shock the public”. She singled out former Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton for expressing a “preference” that private security should be used.
Mr Ashton distanced himself from the decision to hire private security — blamed for allowing the virus to spread across Melbourne and kill hundreds of people. “Disappointingly, that person (who made the decision) seems determined to remain anonymous,” he told The Australian.
Mr Andrews, who has already split the DHHS into two departments and accepted the resignation of its secretary Kym Peake, said his “commitment is not only to apologise … but to also offer my commitment to make sure we do everything we possibly can to learn these lessons”.
Read the full story here.
Jared Lynch 4.45am: Families hit by $127 private health insurance spike
Private health insurers have got their Christmas wish, with Health Minister Greg Hunt granting premium price hikes that will cost Australian families an extra $127 a year on average.
From April 1 next year, health insurance premiums will rise by 2.74 per cent on average, in what Mr Hunt said was the lowest increase in 20 years.
But the government has measured its average across the number of insurers, not by people insured. Most Australians will pay at least an extra 3.2 per cent, with the two biggest funds — Medibank and Bupa, which control more than 51 per cent of the market — receiving approvals for premium increases of 3.25 and 3.21 per cent respectively.
Read the full story here.
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